Two story tellers: Frank McPEAKE of Belfast recorded by Peter Kennedy in London 1961 and Henry McGREGOR recorded by Peter Kennedy & Hamish Henderson Perth 1955. Frank McPEAKE was 76, when suddenly, in the middle of a recording session with their family trio (FTX-071), he asked Peter if he was interested in Jack Stories as well as songs and instrumental pipe music. Peter asked him why he had never mentioned this before? You never asked me, was his reply ( A moral tale for tradition collectors). Frank's father was born at Curran in Co Derry but the family originally came from Scotland. When Frank started playing the Uillean bagpipes it was believed that he was the first piper in Be1fast for 116 years. There were no other pipers in his family and none in the North of Ireland.

Henry McGREGOR, who came of a famous Scots piping family, was 80 years old when he was visited by Peter and Hamish in 1955 In addition to recording these two Jack Stories, he demonstrated the art of "cantering" (mouth-music) the pipe-tunes and he also sang a number of important versions of the classic ballads which he had heard as a boy in Pitlochry. Henry made his own bagpipe reeds and chanters and, as a boy, he had been a keen pearl-fisher and woodcutter. His uncle was one of the best pibroch players in Scotland and Henry himself was also much respected as a piper and pibroch player.

Stories told by Frank McPEAKF. rec by PK l5/1/61

1. JACK AND THE LORD HIGH MAYOR 14.10

2. JACK AND THF THREE GIANTS 6.50

3. SILLY JACK AND THE ENGLISHMAN 1.53

4. SILLY JACK AND THE TWO PAIRS OF THREE WOMEN 2.05

Recorded & edited by Peter Kennedy & first published on Folktrax cassettes 1975.